.'V. 


A 


7% r% 

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SERMON, 


1 1(® 


AT  ^©OTBH* 


* (•!. 


IN  TIIE  BAPTIST  MEETING-HOUSE, 


MAY  17,  1820. 


BEFORE  THE 


FEMALE  CHARITABLE  SOCIETIES. 

AT  THEIR 


RESPECTIVE  ANNIVERSARIES. 


BY  GEORGE  PHIPPEN,  A.  B. 

Faster  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Woburn. 


BOSTON : 


PRINTED  BY  TRUE  AND  WESTON. 


WOBURN,  MAY  24,  1820. 


Dear  Sir, 

BEING  appointed  by  the  Female  Missionary  and  Benevolent 
Societies,  to  wait  on  you — In  their  names,  we  present  you  our  sincere  thanks 
for  the  judicious  and  interesting  Discourse  delivered  before  them,  on  the  17tli 
inst. — Likewise,  in  their  names,  we  solicit  a copy  for  the  press — Hoping  that 
while  you  stand  to  plead  the  cause  of  God  and  the  poor,  you  will  abundant- 
ly share  in  the  blessings  of  Heaven,  and  experience  the  truth  of  the  senti- 
ment expressed  by  the  wise  man — He  that  waiteth  upon  his  master,  shall  be 
honoured. 


Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Societies , 

PHEBE  CONVERS, ; 
LOIS  FOWLE, 

Rev.  George  Phippeit. 


Committee. 


To  the  Committee  of  the  Female  Missionary  Benevolent  Societies. 

Ladies, 

THE  Sermon  delivered  before  your  respective  Societies,  on  the 
17th  inst.  at  your  request,  is,  with  diffidence,  submitted  for  publication.  Ac- 
cept my  thanks  for  the  expressions  of  approbation  you  have  bestowed  upon 
it,  and  ray  sincere  desires  for  your  prosperity  in  those  works  of  charity  which 
are  the  professed  objects  of  your  respective  Associations. 

GEORGE  PHIPPEN. 

To  Mrs.  Phebe  Convers,  ) 

and  % Committee , Ac. 

Mrs.  Lois  Fowle, 


Woburic,  May  24,  1820. 


SERMON. 


MATTHEW  x.  8. 

“FREELY  YE  HAVE  RECEIVED;  FREELY  GIVE.” 


The  Christian  religion  is  a religion  of  love  and  peace. 
It  was  not  established  by  civil  power,  nor  has  it  ever 
depended  on  that  power  for  success.  The  history  of 
the  Church,  from  the  Apostolic  age,  to  the  present, 
confirms  the  important  truth,  that  religion  has  flourish- 
ed most,  when  left  free  to  prove  and  establish  her  own 
divine  glory  and  authenticity. 

When  the  whole  world  was  in  arms  against  the 
Prince  of  peace,  to  establish  his  heavenly  mission,  his 
subjects  were  forbidden  the  use  of  the  sword.  On 
one  memorable  occasion,  when  Peter,  to  revenge  the 
insults  thrown  upon  his  Lord,  resorted  to  that  weapon ; 
his  Lord  rebuked  him — “put  up  again  thy  sword  into 
his  place,  for  all  they  that  take  the  sword  shall  perish 
with  the  sword.”  But  although  denied  the  use  of  car- 


nal weapons,  the  disciples  were  not  defenceless.  Their 
“weapons”  were  “spiritual  and  mighty  through  God 
to  the  pulling  down  of  strong  holds.”  A dispensation 
of  the  Gospel  was  committed  to  them,  and  they  had 
power  given  them  to  work  miracles.  You  will  find 
their  commission  in  this  chapter.  “ And  as  ye  go, 
preach,  saying  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.  Heal 
the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out 
devils ; freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.” 

As  the  Apostles  had  freely  received  from  God  all 
their  extraordinary  gifts,  so  they  were  commanded 
freely  to  exercise  those  gifts  upon  the  bodies  and  souls 
of  others — that  is,  when  they  healed  the  sick,  when 
they  cleansed  the  leper,  when  they  raised  the  dead, 
when  they  cast  out  devils,  they  were  to  do  it  cheerful- 
ly and  gratuitously. 

Those  extraordinary  gifts  which  were  freely  bestow- 
ed upon  the  Apostles,  have  not  been  received  by  us  ; 


4 


yet  we  largely  share  in  the  blessings  of  Heaven.  Free- 
ly have  we  received,  let  us  then  freely  give. 

Charity,  enforced  from  a consideration  of  the  free 
gifts  of  God  bestowed  upon  his  creatures,  is  the  senti- 
ment we  shall  deduce  from  the  text.  In  illustrating 
which,  it  is  proposed 

First,  To  enumerate  some  of  the  gifts  of  God. 

Secondly,  To  shew  that  the  gifts  of  God  are  freely 
bestowed. 

Thirdly,  We  shall  urge  these  considerations  as  mo- 
tives to  charity. 

First,  as  proposed,  we  shall  enumerate  some  of  the 
gifts  of  God. 

1.  The  creatures  of  God  are  his  gift.  He  made 
them,  and  claims  them  as  his  own.  This  sentiment  is 
expressed  in  the  50th  Psalm — “ Every  beast  of  the 
forest  is  mine,  and  the  cattle  upon  a thousand  hills. — 
I know  all  the  fowls  of  the  mountains ; and  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  field  are  mine.  If  I were  hungry,  I would 
not  tell  thee,  for  the  world  is  mine,  and  the  fullness 
thereof.”  And  yet  all  these  creatures  are  given  us 
richly  to  enjoy.  They  supply  us  with  food  and  rai- 
ment. They  nourish  our  blood,  invigorate  our  system, 
and  defend  our  bodies.  These,  together  with  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  field  and  forest,  preserve  us  from  the  fa- 
tal effects  of  the  damps  of  night,  and  the  scorching 
beams  of  the  meridian  sun ; from  the  heat  of  summer, 
and  the  cold  blasts  of  winter.  Covered  from  the  storm 
and  tempest,  with  the  conveniences  of  life  around  him, 
man  goes  out  to  his  labour,  and  returns  ; he  takes  of 
the  provisions  of  his  table,  and  lies  down  to  rest;  he  is 
happy  in  the  society  of  his  friends,  and  still  happier  in 
the  embraces  of  his  family ; he  may  engage  in  the  ac- 
tive pursuits  of  life,  or  live  retired  from  the  world. — 
The  gifts  of  God  are  abundant,  and  while  they  are 
properly  used,  they  render  us  eminently  happy  amidst 
the  miseries  of  life. 

2.  Social  intercourse  is  not  among  the  least  of  our 
blessings.  Man  is  formed  for  society.  This  is  e^  i- 
dent,  no  less  from  the  gifts  which  he  possesses,  than 
from  the  great  objects  of  his  existence.  Immediately 
after  he  was  created,  God  saw  that  it  was  not  good 


that  man  should  be  alone  ; he  therefore  made  an ‘‘help 
meet  for  him.”  As  -families  increased  on  the  earth, 
and  intercourse  with  each  other  became  necessary  and 
convenient,  in  order  to  render  that  intercourse  sale  and 
interesting,  they  voluntarily  entered  into  certain  agree- 
ments— a breach  of  any  of  which  was  punished  accor- 
ding to  the  magnitude  of  the  offence,  Probably  Patri- 
archal governments  were  the  first  established  among 
men.  These  consisted  of  one  or  more  families  entering 
into  a solemn  compact  to  preserve  inviolate  their  indi- 
vidual and  family  rights,  and  to  promote  love  Ac  friend- 
ship among  themselves.  The  blessings  resulting  from 
suen  associations  were  of  the  happiest  kind.  In  part 
they  were  a compensation  for  the  labours  and  dangers 
and  disappointments  of  life.  It  is  evident,  then,  that 
in  the  early  ages  of  the  world,  a high  value  was  at- 
tached to  social  intercourse  ; nor  has  its  value  dimin- 
ished by  the  lapse  of  some  thousands  of  years.  No 
circumstances  more  fully'  prove  the  truth  of  these  re- 
marks, than  the  many  and  different  forms  of  govern- 
ment, which  have  been  instituted — the  fixed  statutes 
of  those  governments,  and  the  awful  penalties  annexed 
in  cases  of  violation. 

Why  can  we  consent  to  see  a fellow  creature  chain- 
ed in  a dungeon?  condemned  to  labour  for  life  in  a 
prison?  suspended  by  the  neck  on  a gallows  ? Is  it  be- 
cause we  are  destitute  of  feeling?  Is  it  because  the  sym- 
pathies of  nature  are  smothered  in  the  ruins  of  the  fall, 
and  our  hearts  are  callous  to  the  miseries  of  others  ?. 
No — We  yet  have  feeling — we  yet  have  sympathy — 
we  commiserate  the  wretched — we  pity  them — we 
pray  for  them.  But  these  offenders  have  disregarded 
the  majesty  of  the  laws  : they  have  disturbed  the 

Ce  of  society  : they  have  burst  asunder  the  sacred 
, which  binds  man  to  his  fellow  : they  have  threat- 
ened our  ruin,  in  sanctioning  crimes,  which,  when  once 
tolerated  bv  law,  would  keep  us  in  constant  jeopardy 
of  life,  and  destroyr  the  richest  blessings  of  social  inter- 
course ; and  we  rise  superior  to  the  strong  and  conflic- 
ting impulses  of  our  nature,  and  are  willing  to  see  the 
guilty  rather  than  the  innocent  suffer.  We  arc  willing 


6 


to  see  the  criminal  doomed  to  the  prison,  or  to  the  dun- 
geon, or  even  to  the  gallows,  rather  than  sacrifice  the 
dearest  interests  of  society. 

3.  The  blessings  of  health  and  strength  are  among 
the  gifts  of  God.  A vigorous  athletic  constitution  is 
the  greatest  temporal  blessing  we  enjoy.  On  this  sub- 
ject, there  is  but  one  opinion.  The  poor  man  attach- 
es to  it  an  invaluable  price,  as  on  it  depends  his  own 
support,  and  perhaps  the  support  of  a numerous  fami- 
ly. Nor  is  its  value  less  in  the  estimation  of  the  rich; 
for  what  are  riches,  without  health  ? A man  may  look 
upon  them,  but  he  cannot  enjoy  them.  He  may  do  good 
with  them,  by  giving  to  the  poor,  and  assisting  charita- 
ble and  other  important  institutions,  but  otherwise  he 
can  reap  no  benefit.  To  the  voluptuary,  health  is  his 
life.  Only  in  health  can  he  feast  his  appetites,  and  in- 
dulge his  passions.  Laid  upon  a sick  bed,  every  avenue 
to  pleasure  is  closed,  and  his  upbraiding  conscience  fills 
him  with  keen  remorse.  Nor  are  we  to  conclude  that 
the  abstemious  are  indifferent  to  health,  because  they 
go  not  with  the  voluptuous  in  their  excesses.  Temper- 
ance and  sobriety  are  the  best  guardians  to  preserve 
and  perpetuate  health.  Without  bodily  health,  what 
are  riches  and  honours  and  grandeur ! How  exceed- 
ingly diminished  in  value,  are  the  best  enjoyments  the 
world  can  bestow ! The  healthy  man  attends  to  his 
labour,  engages  in  the  duties  of  his  profession,  eats  his 
food,  takes  his  rest,  visits  his  friends,  and  enjoys  the 
presence  and  conversation  of  his  family,  with  a relish 
unknown  to  the  weakly  and  sick.  Would  you  know 
how  rich  a blessing  is  the  blessing  of  health  ? Go,  my 
friends,  to  those  habitations,  where  poverty  and  vice 
have  diseased  the  incumbents,  or  where  sickness  rag- 
es, and  death  threatens  to  enter  the  door.  If  need  be, 
administer  to  the  relief  of  these  distressed  objects. — 
Do  it  freely,  for  freely  have  you  received. 

4.  Our  intellectual  capacities  are  the  gift  of  God. — 
Among  the  works  of  God,  we  hold  a distinguished  rank. 
Our  rational  powers  raise  us  in  the  scale  of  being  a- 
bove  all  animal  creation.  We  were  made  but  little 
lower  than  the  Angels,  and  were  crowned  with  glorv 


7 


and  honour  ; and  had  man  remained  the  creature  he 
was,  when  he  came  from  the  hands  of  his  Maker,  he 
would  be  as  happy  as  the  Angels  in  Heaven. 

The  effects  of  the  fall  are  indeed  lamentable.  The 
essential  glory  of  man  has  fled — a death-like  inactivity 
has  siezed  all  his  moral  faculties.  Still  the  powers  of 
his  soul  are  the  same. 

We  are  capable  of  contemplating  the  infinite  per- 
fections of  Jenovah,  and  loving  the  Being  who  made  us, 
with  all  our  hearts.  In  the  house  of  prayer,  at  the 
family  altar,  and  in  places  of  retirement,  consecrated 
to  secret  devotion,  we  realize  a present  Deity, 
we  admire,  we  praise,  we  adore.  Our  hearts  are 
sometimes  filled  with  gratitude  in  view  of  the  mercy  of 
God,  while  we  deeply  deplore  the  sins  which  have 
pierced  the  son  of  his  love.  It  is  our  privilege  through 
nature  to  look  up  to  nature’s  God.  We  contemplate 
the  sun,  the  moon,  the  stars  ; we  traverse  the  vast  re- 
gions of  space,  and  assisted  by  the  experience  of  others, 
we  learn  the  relative  situations,  the  magnitudes,  the 
orbits  and  motions  of  the  heavenly  bodies.  But  above 
these  visible  heavens,  we  contemplate  systems  on  sys- 
tems, worlds  on  worlds,  till  the  mind  lost  in  wonder, 
rests  on  him  who  created  all  things. 

Improving  his  capacities  by  application  to  study,  man 
has  been  able  perfectly  to  understand  the  laws  of  na- 
ture in  a variety  of  useful  and  important  particulars. 
He  can  fix  the  time  of  the  conjunction  and  opposition 
of  the  planets.  He  can  calculate  with  minute  exact- 
ness an  eclipse,  a century  before  it  shall  take  place. — 
He  can  collect  that  deadly  fluid  which  forms  the  light- 
ning of  Heaven.  He  knows  its  causes,  its  nature,  and 
its  effects.  Man  by  his  reason,  his  ingenuity  and  in- 
dustry, has  penetrated  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth. — 
He  has  found  out  the  secret  places  where  the  silver 
and  gold  are  hid,  and  where  the  precious  stones  are 
treasured  up.  The  useful  minerals  and  fossils,  with 
which  the  earth  is  abundantly  supplied,  by  the  labour 
of  his  hands,  have  become  sources  of  immense  wealth. 
In  relation  to  this  subject  it  is  said  of  man,  Job  28,  He 
putteth  forth  his  hand  upon  the  rocks  ; he  overturneth 


8 


the  mountains  by  the  roots.  He  cutteth  out  rivers  in 
the  rocks,  and  his  eye  seeth  every  precious  thing.  He 
bindeth  the  floods  from  overflowing,  and  the  thing 
that  is  hid  bringeth  he  forth  to  light. 

These,  my  friends,  are  some  of  the  gifts  of  God  to 
man.  The  sum  of  them  ! who  can  tell  ? But  there  is 
a gift  which  in  point  of  value,  transcends  the  whole.  I 
mean  the  gift  of  Jesus  Christ.  O precious,  invaluable 
gift  to  a ruined  world  ! without  a Saviour,  though  rich 
in  earthly  blessings,  we  had  been  “ poor,  and  wretched, 
and  miserable,  and  blind,  and  naked.” 

Secondly.  The  gifts  of  God  are  freely  bestowed 
upon  his  creatures. 

1.  This  appears,  when  we  consider  his  infinite  per- 
fections. God  is  supremely  happy  and  glorious,  aside 
from  the  relations  which  created  beings  sustain  towards 
him.  “ O ! the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wdsdom 
and  knowledge  of  God.”  “ He  only  hath  immortality, 
dwelling4  in  the  light  w'hich  no  man  can  approach  unto. 
Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out  God  ? Canst  thou  find 
out  the  Almighty  to  perfection  ? It  is  as  high  as  Heaven, 
what  canst  thou  do?  deeper  than  hell,  what  canst  thou 
know  ? The  measure  thereof  is  longer  than  the  earth, 
and  broader  than  the  sea.”  Such  were  the  views  of 
Zophar  the  Naamathite,  respecting  the  perfections  of 
the  Supreme  Being. 

It  is  not  to  add  to  his  essential  glory,  that  God  be- 
stows blessing  upon  his  creatures,  for  his  glory  is  above 
the  heavens.  Nor  is  it  to  add  to  his  happiness,  for  he 
is  happy  in  himself,  and  ever  would  have  been  happy 
had  man  never  been  formed,  or  the  globe  he  inhabits 
never  created. 

To  advance  his  declarative  glory,  and  exercise  his 
purely  benevolent  feelings,  God  made  man,  bestowed 
upon  him  rational,  contemplative,  and  immortal  powers, 
gave  him  a vigorious  and  healthy  constitution,  and  for 
his  happiness,  committed  to  his  care  the  animal  and 
vegetable  creations. 

Are  we  possessed  of  rational,  contemplative,  immor- 
tal powers  ? let  us  remember  that  we  nave  freely  re- 
ceived them  from  God.  We  might  have  been  differ- 


9 


ently  formed — formed  with  minds  less  capacious,  or  re- 
stricted in  improvement,  exclusively  to  the  objects  of 
sense. 

Is  it  absolutely  necessary  that  man  should  be  able 
to  measure  the  earth  7 to  pierce  the  clouds  ? to  scan 
the  heavens  ? to  understand  the  laws  of  nature  7 to 
have  the  assurance  of  immortality  and  foretastes  of  the 
the  glories  of  the  upper  world  7 

Is  it  said  that  by  steady  perseverance  in  mental  im- 
provement, man  holds  his  present  elevated  rank  in  the 
scale  of  being  7 This  we  deny ; man  may  improve  his 
capacities,  but  he  cannot  create  them.  They  are  the 
gift  of  God.  It  is  not  believed,  however,  that  all  minds 
are  equally  capacious,  though  all  which  are  perfect  in 
their  nature,  are  rational,  contemplative,  and  immortal. 
But  there  are  thousands  who  have  the  foundation — 
the  stamina  in  nature,  who  for  want  of  the  advantages 
of  improvement,  live  and  die  in  ignorance.  This  cir- 
cumstance presents  to  view  the  superiority  of  our  bless- 
ings when  compared  with  the  blessings  of  others,  and 
it  affords  ample  reason  for  gratitude  to  the  giver  of 
every  good  and  perfect  gift. 

In  view  of  the  benevolence  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
in  making  us  wiser  than  the  beasts  of  the  field,  and  bet- 
ter than  the  fowls  of  heaven,  may  the  language  of  our 
hearts  be — bless  the  Lord,  O our  souls,  and  all  that  is 
within  us,  bless  his  holy  name. 

2.  Are  we  blessed  with  health  and  strength  7 these 
are  the  gift  of  God. 

Temperance  is  the  best  preservative  of  health.  This 
fact  is  derived  from  observation,  and  is  corroborated 
by  universal  experience.  The  temperate  usually  are 
the  most  healthy,  and  live  to  the  most  advanced  age. 
But  temperance  certainly  will  not  preserve  our  strength, 
or  secure  us  from  the  arrests  of  sickness  and  death. — 
He  wrho  holds  us  in  his  hand,  by  the  blast  of  his  breath 
can  cause  our  beauty  to  fade,  and  our  skin  to  cleave  to 
our  bones.Engaged  in  our  usual&  lawful  avocations, while 
unconscious  of  danger,  wre  may  receive  a shock  which  will 
deprive  us  of  an  arm, or  a leg, or  so  essentially  affect  the 
seat  of  life,  as  to  bring  on  debilitv  and  sickness  & death. 

B 


10 


Infectious  disease  may  rage  around  us,  and  seizing 
upon  our  constitutions,  may  bring  us  to  the  borders  of 
the  grave,  and  there  leaving  us,  may  leave  us  for  years 
to  drag  out  a weakly  existence. 

The  air  we  breathe  may  be  so  strongly  impregnat- 
ed with  poisonous  particles,  as  gradually  to  consume 
the  blood  and  dry  up  the  fluids  of  our  bodies  ; or  na- 
ture from  ordinary  causes,  refusing  to  perform  her  func- 
tions, may  bring  on  disease  which  shall  terminate  in 
dissolution.  While  the  most  temperate  are  thus  ex- 
posed to  the  loss  of  health  and  strength,  how  much 
more  exposed  to  the  same  losses  are  the  licentious  and 
the  voluptuary.  No  human  foresight,  no  precautions 
on  our  part,  can  effectually  secure  us.  Behold  that 
cripple ! pitiable  object  ! engaged  in  his  lawful  em- 
ployment, he  was  erecting  a scaffold,  he  fell,  he  re- 
ceived an  essential  injury  ; the  muscles  of  his  leg  are 
contracted,  his  strength  is  gone ; when  he  goes  abroad 
he  is  supported  only  by  a crutch.  In  yonder  dwelling  lies 
an  emaciated  creature,  who  for  years  has  been  confin- 
ed to  her  bed.  She  was  attacked  with  a violent  fever, 
her  disorder  at  last  left  her,  but  left  her  in  so  fee- 
ble a state  as  to  exclude  all  hope  of  a perfect  recove- 
ry. Wearisome  days  and  nights  are  appointed  her. 
When  it  is  night,  she  is  saying  “ when  will  it  be  morning, 
and  when  it  is  morning,  O when  will  it  be  night.”  I point 
you  to  no  fictions.  These  characters  live,  and  shall  I say 
they  live  to  remind  us  that  health  and  strength  are 
blessings  which  we  freely  receive  from  God,  and  of 
which  he  can  deprive  us  at  pleasure. 

3.  We  live  in  society,  we  are  surrounded  by  our 
friends.  Their  houses  are  open  to  us,  and  when  they 
meet  on  ordinary  or  extraordinary  occasions,  we  meet 
with  them  ; we  arc  bound  together  by  a similarity  of 
feeling,  views  and  conduct,  in  matters  civil,  social  and 
religious.  We  leave  the  place  of  our  nativity,  and  set- 
tle in  a new  country.  There  we  soon  form  a circle  ol 
friends,  and  enjoy  the  blessings  of  social  intercourse. 
We  leave  our  native  land  and  traverse  the  ocean  tor 
foreign  climes.  Strangers  in  a strange  land,  we  feel 
almost  alone,  though  surrounded  by  thousands.  In  a 


11 


short  time  here  also  we  find  friends,  we  form  select  so- 
cieties, and  enjoy  the  blessings  which  were  peculiar  to 
the  land  of  our  birth.  These  are  blessings  freely  be- 
stowed upon  us  by  God.  It  might  have  been  other- 
wise. Such  might  have  been  the  laws  of  nations,  or 
the  dispensations  of  divine  providence,  as  to  confine  us 
to  our  native  country  ; to  the  state,  the  town,  or  even 
the  village  in  which  we  were  born.  How  many  are 
there  who  roam  at  large  in  barbarous  countries,  who 
are  ignorant  of  the  securities  of  our  civil  compacts,  and 
of  the  comforts  which  flow  from  friendly  intercourse, 
and  a mutual  interchange  of  kindnesses. 

4.  Our  Heavenly  Father  freely  bestows  upon  us  all 
the  good  things  we  enjoy  in  life,  and  these  good  things 
are  enjoyed  in  abundance  by  the  inhabitants  of  this 
highly  favoured  country.  Have  we  enough  to  live  up- 
on, without  being  dependant  on  our  friends  ? Let  us 
therewith  be  content.  Had  we  only  what  we  deserve, 
our  condition  would  be  far  below  what  it  is.  If,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  necessaries  of  life,  we  are  favoured  Avith 
its  conveniences,  and  have  a surplus  after  our  wants  are 
extracted  ; this  is  the  free  gift  of  God. 

Have  you  added  house  to  house,  and  barn  to  barn, 
and  field  to  field  ? Are  you  numbered  among  the  rich  ? 
Think  not  to  say  within  yourselves,  By  our  persever- 
ance, industry  and  economy,  our  hands  have  gotten  us 
this.  This  would  offend  your  God.  Let  me  assure 
you,  that  without  His  blessing,  perseverance,  industry, 
and  economy,  will  effect  nothing.  Admitting  you  have 
paid  the  strictest  attention  to  your  agricultural  pur- 
suits ; you  have  ploughed  and  sowed  and  planted ; still 
have  you  been  dependant  on  God  for  a harvest.  If  He 
“ who  holds  the  Avaters  in  the  holloAV  of  his  hand,”  had 
shut  up  the  AvindoAVs  of  heaven,  your  labours  Avould 
have  been  in  vain — your  best  hopes  Avould  have  been 
blasted.  Or  if,  in  your  mechanical  business,  you  had 
rose  early,  and  sat  up  late,  and  studiously  improved 
your  time  in  application  to  labour;  this  would  not  have 
made  you  rich,  Avithout  the  blessing  of  the  Lord.  Or 
if,  in  your  merchandize,  you  had  made  the  nicest  calcu- 
lations, and  had  entered  extensively  into  business ; still, 


43 


without  His  blessing,  who  maketh  rich,  you  had  been 
poor. 

Though  the  imprudent,  the  idle,  and  unsteady,  have 
no  reason  to  expect  great  riches,  yet  those  rich  per- 
sons whose  peculiar  characteristics  are  the  opposite  of 
these,  ought  not  to  conclude  that  their  perseverance, 
industry  and  economy  have  been  the  sole  procuring 
causes  of  their  wealth.  Had  He  saw  fit,  who  has  the 
elements  at  command,  who  makes  the  clouds  his  char- 
iot, and  in  whose  hands  are  all  the  diseases  which  af- 
flict mortals,  He  would  have  stopped  their  progress, 
deranged  their  plans,  and  closed  at  once  both  their  la- 
bours and  expectations.  Freely  ye  have  received ; free- 
ly give.  “ Let  not  the  wise  man  then,  glory  in  his  wis- 
dom, neither  let  the  mighty  man  glory  in  his  might ; let 
not  the  rich  man  glory  in  his  riches.  But  let  him  that 
glorieth,  glory  in  this,  that  he  understandeth  & know- 
eth  me,  that  I am  the  Lord,  which  exercise  loving 
kindness,  judgment  and  righteousness  in  the  earth,  for 
in  these  things  I delight,  saith  the  Lord.” 

Thirdly,  We  shall  urge  the  considerations  to  which 
we  have  already  attended,  as  motives  to  charity. 

But  before  we  enter  upon  this  part  of  the  subject, 
it  will  not  be  improper  to  consider  who  are  suitable 
objects  of  charity.  The  virtuous  poor  are  the  first 
class  of  charitable  objects,  to  which  we  shall  call  your 
attention.  There  are  many  in  the  lower  grades  of  life, 
who  either,  for  the  want  of  capacity,  or  in  consequence 
of  repeated  attacks  of  sickness,  are  in  really  necessit- 
ous circumstances.  Nor  are  they  ever  able  to  rise  a- 
bove  their  present  situation.  Some  of  these  were  born 
in  poverty,  others  were  once  the  heirs  of  a comforta- 
ble inheritance,  and  perhaps  a few  once  possessed  rich- 
es ; but  of  these  they  have  been  bereft  by  Providences, 
which  could  not  have  been  foreseen  or  prevented. — 
They  are  now  equally  wretched,  or  if  there  is  any  dif- 
ference in  their  situations,  those  who  have  seen  better 
days  are  the  most  miserable.  My  friends,  you  will 
have  but  one  mind  relative  to  their  wants;  and  I trust 
but  one  heart — a heart  to  relieve  them  to  your  utmost 
ability.  The  second  class  are  the  wretched  who  have 


IB 


made  themselves  so  by  their  own  imprudence.  This 
group  of  miserable  objects  is  much  larger  than  the 
former,  and  their  condition  is  much  more  deplorable. 
Among  them  are  found  the  idle,  the  filthy,  the  licen- 
tious and  the  intemperate.  They  are  not  strangers  to 
want,  to  hunger,  cold  and  nakedness,  and  more  than 
this,  many  of  them  have  all  the  horrors  of  a guilty  con- 
science, and  a dreadful  sense  of  the  wrath  of  Almighty 
God  ! These  are  often  their  feelings,  when  they  are 
not  drowned  in  sensual  indulgences,  it  is  acknowledg- 
ed that  characters  of  this  description  are  proper  sub- 
jects of  reproof  and  admonition ; but  they  are  also  ob- 
jects of  pity,  and  I hesitate  not  to  say,  they  are  objects 
of  charity.  Yes;  they  need  your  charity  in  two  ways 
— they  are  cold,  hungry  and  naked  ! warm  them,  feed 
them,  clothe  them  : But  they  are  rushing  to  eternal 
ruin — Warn  them  by  the  terrors  of  the  Loud;  tell 
them  of  the  awful  realities  of  Heaven  and  Hell ; urge 
them  to  fly  to  Christ,  who  only  can  save  them  ! 

Do  you  enquire  whether  characters  of  the  above  de- 
scription live  around  you  ? We  answer,  they  do.  Bu^ 
is  there  not  provision  made  by  the  town  to  which  they 
may  resort,  and  be  warmed,  and  clothed,  and  fed  ? 
There  is,  and  many  of  them  repair  to  it,  and  receive 
its  comforts.  All,  however,  cannot  here  be  accommo- 
dated, or  if  they  could,  many  would  be  unwilling  to  make 
application.  They  would  rather  eat  their  scanty  mor- 
sel alone,  and  enjoy  the  quiet  of  retirement,  than  have 
an  abundance  in  a public  house.  Besides,  there  are  ma- 
ny, who  with  a little  help,  can  be  comfortable,  without 
throwing  themselves  upon  the  town  for  support. 

But  to  return — let  me  urge  you  to  charity,  from  the 
consideration  that  all  you  have,  you  have  freely  receiv- 
ed from  God. 

You  have  the  use  of  your  reason.  Pity  and  relieve 
the  idiot  and  insane.  Are  they  in  want  ? Shut  not 
up  your  bowels  of  mercy.  How  wretched  are  they 
compared  with  yourselves  ! You  might  have  been  as 
they  are.  What  you  have,  you  have  freely  received. 

While  many  are  sick  around  you,  you  have  your 
health.  Howr  many  w’eakly  and  sick  among  the  poor 


are  occasionally  filled  with  distressing  apprehensions 
for  a future  supply  of  their  wants.  They  are  desti- 
tute of  food,  fuel  and  clothing,  and  some  of  them  per- 
haps, are  destitute  of  a roof  to  shelter  them.  But  tney 
need  more  than  a habitation  ; they  need  more  than 
common  food  ; they  are  sick  : they  have  no  money  : 
they  need  a faithful  nurse  : they  need  something  to 
eat  and  drink,  which  will  support  their  debilitated 
stomachs.  You  are  well.  Go  and  administer  to  the 
sick.  Freely  have  you  received  ; freely  give.  1 

Again.  We  are  made  for  society.  We  enjoy  its 
blessings.  We  can  meet  in  the  social  circle  : we  can 
visit  our  friends  ; we  can  worship  in  the  sanctuary. — 
And  can  we*  forget  the  poor,  who  are  destitute  of 
clothing,  and  the  sick  who  are  confined  to  their  cham- 
bers ? Go,  visit  them  ; converse  with  them  : instruct, 
admonish  and  comfort  them,  as  their  circumstances  may 
require.  Open  your  hand  wide,  and  give  them.  He 
who  seeth  in  secret,  will  reward  you  openly.  Remem- 
ber God  made  us  social  beings. 

Once  more.  We  have  freely  received  all  our  tem- 
poral blessings  from  God.  My  hearers,  will  not  the 
considerations,  that  you  are  entirely  dependant  on  God 
for  every  gift,  and  that  from  him  you  have  gratuitous- 
ly received  all  your  temporal  comforts,  open  your 
hearts  and  hands  ? I trust  they  will.  Indeed  your 
presence  here  to  day,  is  a pledge  that  you  are  benev- 
olently disposed.  You  pity  the  poor,  and  you  pity 
them  no  less,  I trust,  from  a desire  to  gratify  the  finest 
feelings  of  your  hearts,  than  from  a regard  to  the  high 
command  of  Heaven.  Will  you  relieve  them?  Will 
you  engage  to  lend  from  time  to  time  a portion  of 
your  property  to  the  Lord,  and  take  his  promises  for 
security  ? Freely  have  you  received  ; freely  give. 

“Say  not  that  all  the  poor  are  an  idle,  worthless  class 
of  community,  and  that  to  relieve  them  by  our  chari- 
ty, is  to  countenance  them  in  their  laziness  and  vice. 
It  is  not  true.  Many  of  those  who  are  destitute  of 
the  comforts  of  life,  arc  so  for  the  want  of  a talent  to 
acquire  property,  or  by  what  we  call  misfortune.  And 
allowing  that  some  are  criminally  idle  and  vicious  ; — 


15 


What  then  ? Shall  we  refuse  to  administer  to  them 
in  absolute  distress  ? Must  they  perish  in  our  sight, 
because  they  are  unworthy  of  favour  ? And  is  this  the 
law  of  love  ? Ah!  my  brethren,' and  what  if  our 
Heavenly  Father  should  make  this  the  rule  of  his 
proceeding  towards  us,  who  are  in  his  sight  all  miser- 
able offenders,  and  criminally  guilty  of  misimproving  the 
talents  committed  to  us  ? What  would  be  our  awful 
doom  for  eternity?  And  if  He  waited  to  bestow  his  or- 
dinary blessings,  till  we  were  good  enough  to  deserve 
them,  who  would  be  clothed?  who  fed?  And  who  would 
ever  have  a roof  to  shelter  him  from  the  stormy  blast  ?” 

In  connexion  with  the  Female  Benevolent  Society, 
we  this  day  celebrate  the  first  Anniversary  of  the  Fe- 
male Cent  Society.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  of  this  So- 
ciety, that  its  object  is  highly  commendable,  and  de- 
serves extensive  patronage : they  wish  to  contribute 
their  mite  toward  supplying  the  destitute  with  the  gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ.  Around  us,  and  especially  in  the 
back  settlements  of  our  country,  there  are  many  indi- 
viduals and  families,  who  deservedly  claim  our  atten- 
tion and  assistance. 

As  a people,  we  are  highly  favoured  of  God  ; per- 
haps more  so  than  any  other  nation  on  earth : and  yet 
there  are  thousands  on  our  frontiers,  and  in  different 
sections  of  the  union,  who,  as  it  respects  religion,  are 
in  a state  of  deplorable  ignorance.  Our  missionaries 
have  given  us  affecting  accounts  of  the  situation  of  the 
people  in  the  destitute  places  where  they  have  trav- 
elled. In  some  towns  and  villages,  the  gospel  has  not 
been  preached  at  all.  Here  are  to  be  found  persons, 
who  have  never  seen  a bible,  or  heard  of  the  name  of 
Jesus.  In  other  places,  the  people  rarely  hear  a gos- 
pel sermon.  Macedonian  cries  are  heard  from  all 
quarters  of  our  country.  In  general  the  people  feel  their 
need  of  religious  instruction,  and  are  hailing  the  ser- 
vants of  Jesus  as  the  messengers  of  peace.  “ How 
beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that 
bringeth  glad  tidings,  that  puhlisheth  peace  ; that  saith 
unto  Zion,  Behold,  thy  God  reigneth.” 

Many  families  now  scattered  abroad  in  the  wilder- 


16 


ness,  once  possessed  gospel  privileges.  They  were 
situated  where  they  could  attend  to  the  ministry  of  the 
"word,  and  enjoy  the  communion  of  saints,  and  on  each 
returning  Sabbath,  they  could  say  to  their  friends,  “Let 
us  go  unto  the  house  of  the  Lord  ; our  feet  shall  stand 
within  thy  gates,  O Jerusalem.”  The  silent  tear  often 
steals  down  thtir  cheeks,  in  recollecting  these  precious 
seasons — but  they  are  gone.  Theirs  are  the  sensations 
which  arise  from  the  remembrance  of  joys  which  are 
past.  Frequently  are  they  called  to  pass  through  se- 
vere trials,  w ithout  friends  to  sympathize  with  them, 
or  a minister -of  Jesus  to  give  them  counsel.  Can  we 
in  any  degree  diminish  their  sufferings  ? We  can. — 
The  means  are  in  our  hands;  for  which  we  have  rea- 
son to  bless  God,  and  I trust  a disposition  is  not  want- 
ing to  do  for  them  to  the  extent  of  our  ability. 

I close,  by  observing — I stand  in  this  place,  to  plead 
the  cause  of  God  and  the  poor.  I plead  in  behalf  of 
the  Benevolent  Societies,  whose  Anniversaries  we  cel- 
ebrate. Shall  l plead  in  vain  ? It  remains  for  you  to 
say.  Cast  in  of  your  competency.  Cast  in  of  your  a- 
bundance.  You  shall  not  lose  your  reward.  These  So- 
cieties reach  forth  their  hands  to  receive  your  bounty. 
The  objects  of  their  institutions  are  praise  worthy;  they 
deserve  public  assistance.  May  the  blessing  of  ma- 
ny ready  to  perish  come  upon  their  members.  They 
ask  not  for  themselves,  but  for  the  poor  and  needy.  In 
their  cause  they  have  volunteered  themselves,  and 
whatever  is  at  any  time  given  to  them,  will  doubtless 
be  faithfully  distributed.  “ Blessed  is  he  that  consid- 
ered the  poor.  His  barns  shall  be  filled  with  plenty, 
and  his  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine.”  In 
adversity  he  shall  be  comforted.  With  eyes  raised  to 
heaven,  under  a conscious  sense  of  his  integrity,  he 
shall  be  able  to  say — “ If  I have  withheld  the  poor 
from  their  desire,  or  have  caused  the  eyes  of  the  w ill 
ow  to  fail ; or  have  eaten  my  morsel  myself  alone,  and 
the  fatherless  hath  not  eaten  thereof ; If  I have  seen 
any  perish  for  want  of  clothing,  or  any  poor  w ithout 
covering  ; If  I have  lifted  up  ray  hand  against  the  fa- 
therless when  I saw  my  help  in  the  gate  : Then  let  my 
arm  fall  from  my  shoulder-blade,  and  my  arm  be  brok- 
en from  my  bone.” 


